Mini Story, Photo Prompt, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Backyard Chronicles

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Our gracious host, Rochelle, is asking us to get
creative in 100 words or less using the photo
seen below. Welcome to Friday Fictioneers.
This is where the prompt took me.

© Lisa Fox

The driveway had become a timeline.

The giant grill was where Jonathan spent his weekends, trying to preserve traditions he barely had time for anymore. The toy Silverado belonged to his son, Noah, who followed him everywhere, copying the way he carried tools, the way he checked the propane tank, even the tired sighs after work.

The baby bouncer sat off to the side, sun-faded and still.

Jonathan noticed it only after Noah asked if he was “too big for bouncing now”.

For a moment, the yard felt unbearably quiet.

Children never stop growing. They just leave little reminders behind.

NAR©2026
100 Words

This is “Conversations With My Son” by Mumford & Sons

22 May 2026

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

46 thoughts on “Backyard Chronicles”

  1. Dear Nancy,

    I love the first line. A chapter of your story in and of itself. I have little momentos I’ve kept over the years…pieces of the kids’ artwork, special toys, etc. Now they’re men, but still bear the traces of the boys they were. Evocative and poignant story. Makes me glad I inadvertantly reren the photo. 😉 (If I read that week right, it was your first FF entry, nu?)

    Thank you for being a part of FF.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Dear Rochelle, we also have mementos from school days, even one piece of sculpture that looks like a pyramid, and I love it. My son always laughs whenever he sees it; he can’t believe I actually held onto it. You are right about that being my first entry! I saw names of people no longer with us and a lot who still are; it doesn’t feel like it’s been three years! Thanks! 😊

      shalom

      🕊️

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  4. The first line already says so much. There’s a sadness in this story, not only from the realization that kids grow up so fast, I think. Where is Mum, I wonder.

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  7. This was such a poignant write, amica cara. I rarely am able to listen to the music – either because I’m being a bad employee at work or because I just don’t have the time but I love me some Mumford and Sons and this song was perfect.

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      1. They are.
        I can’t. While I listen to classical music on my computer at work, it’s very low. Songs distract me and I cannot read and write with them playing in the background.

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